There are two main emotions that impact our financial decisions: fear and greed. Greed is so common in our culture that it can be very difficult to see its impact upon us. However, if we are honest with ourselves, at some level we all struggle with greed.
This post looks at what the Bible has to say about greed, the forms it takes in our lives and how a Christian can practically protect their heart from the influence of greed. Dealing with greed is a lifelong battle for Christians, so I hope this will give you the tools you need to fight it.
What The Bible Says
Merriam Webster defines greed as “a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed.” The Bible has a lot to say about greed because it is such a serious spiritual issue. We will only cover some of the verses here due to space, but there are quite a number of warnings in Scripture about being greedy.
1. Man’s Heart Has Not Changed
Three of the the 10 Commandments found in Exodus 20, deal directly with greed:
- v.3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”
- v.15 “You shall not steal.”
- v.17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Money is very much a god in our culture. People will willingly do anything to get more of it. We are constantly bombarded with ads that encourage us to covet what others have. When we can’t afford to buy it, some resort to stealing. Though the 10 Commandments were given thousands of years ago, man’s heart has not changed.
2. Money Does Not Satisfy Us
Ecclesiastes 5:10 “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.”
When we love money, we pursue something that will not bring us satisfaction
3. Greed Doesn’t Value The Right Person
Luke 12:15: “And he (Jesus) said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”
Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Hebrews 13:5: Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Our hearts have space for only one treasure. When we love money and possessions, we put them on the throne of our heart. But true lasting treasure is only found in the Lord.
4. Greed Is A Gateway Sin
1 Timothy 6:9-10 says: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
The Bible is very clear that the love of money (greed) is the root of all kinds of evil. When it takes root in our hearts, it allows many other sins to enter our lives.
What Does Greed Look Like?
Greed can be displayed in our lives in different ways:
Materialism
Materialism values the physical things (money and possessions) over all else, and seeks to acquire ever greater amounts of them. This can be borne out of a need to control our circumstances, our desire for comfort, our own selfishness, trying to improve our standing (pride) or idolatry. No matter the underlying reason, it is the most prevalent form of greed in our culture. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22 is an example of someone pursuing materialism.
Hoarding
Another form greed takes is when we store up excess for ourselves, and don’t share with others. The Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21 is a strong warning against this type of greed.
Being Stingy
When we are stingy towards others, it is rooted in our greed. Proverbs 23:6-8 says “Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words.”
When we are stingy or cheap with others, it can seem as if we are generous, but it really demonstrates an ungenerous spirit. We selfishly want to hold on to what we have, rather than be generous towards others.
How To Combat Greed
There are a few different ways to deal with greed in our lives:
Give
In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus said “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
The only antidote to greed is through giving. When we don’t give, our treasure is money and possessions. When we give, we hold loosely to money and possessions, and they lose their hold on our hearts. God is returned to the throne of our hearts because he is truly what matters to us.
There are other ways to give, but part of our giving needs to be of the money and possessions God has entrusted to us. That is the only way to loosen greed’s grip on our hearts.
In 1 Chronicles 29:14 David says “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.”
When we give, we are reminded that everything we have has come from God. He has blessed us beyond measure, and giving is merely returning a portion of what He gave us first. This allows us to hold money and possessions more loosely.
Accountability
Greed is so subtle, we may not even recognize its appearance in our own life. Having an accountability partner to identify greedy attitudes, habits and thoughts can help you begin to deal with greed.
Learn To Be Content
Philippians 4:11-13 Paul says “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Contentment doesn’t happen naturally, it is something we need to learn. When we learn to be content with what God has provided, we don’t need to chase money or possessions. Our hearts learn that what we truly value is our Creator, not what He has created.
Observe God’s Provision
It can be easy to miss seeing God at work in our lives. If we stop and carefully observe how He provides for our financial needs, it helps our faith grow. When God provides for our needs in unexpected ways, we are able to trust Him when we don’t have what we want.
Pray
Jesus admonished the disciples in Matthew 26:41” “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Greed is a temptation that is common to man, but one that can be overcome with help from God. When we identify it as a problem in our lives, we need to give it over to the Lord in prayer.
Final Thought
Money and possessions are fleeting, but Jesus is the true treasure that will last for eternity. He is sufficient to meet all our needs and enable us to be content. Don’t chase the fleeting rewards of earthly wealth, but the eternal rewards of knowing Christ.
If we don’t fight against greed in our lives, we will be carried along with our culture’s insatiable appetite for more. How can you undo the grip of greed in your life today?
